Electric connector with spring wire



y 1949- H. w. BATCHELLER 2,471,923

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR WITH SPRING WIRE Fil ed May 29, 1948 INVENTOR HUGH W. BATCHELLER ATT S Patented May 31, 1949 I ELECTRIC CONNECTOR WITH SPRING WIRE Hugh W. Batcheller, Newton Highlands, Mass,

assignor to Ark-Les Switch Corporation, Watertown, Mass., a corporation oi. Massachusetts Application May 29, 1948, Serial No. 29.970

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to electric connecters oi the type consisting primarily of two members, one of which is adapted to receive and grip the other in such a manneras to provide tight interfacial contact between the members. In designing a connecter of this type, there are several desirable objectives to be sought in addition to a good interfacial contact with substantial pressure 9 between the faces which are in contact. For example, in most cases durability is important, that is, the ability of the device to undergo a large number of connections and disconnections without undue deterioration. From the economic or commercial point of view, simplicity of parts, ease of manufacture and ease of assembling parts are desirable features.

According to the present invention, a connecter is provided in which the foregoing desirable objectives are realized to a satisfactory degree. This connecter comprises two complementarymembers vention. reference may be had to the following description thereof and to the drawing, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the several parts of a connecter embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the connecter shown in Figure l, assembled;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the line 4--4 of Figure '2.

The connecter comprises two complementary members and I 2 adapted to be connected to complete an electrical circuit, or to be disconnected to interrupt such circuit. The member In includes a channel member 14 having inturned flanges l5 which overhang the bottom of the channel. and a spring element which is normally a sembled with but which is removable from the channel member. The channel memher is made of heavy, metal stock which is preferably of copper or brass, since it is a current-carrying member, and is sufficiently thick to be substantia-lly rigid. The channel member l4 has an.

extension 22 integral therewith to which can be secured a terminal (not shown) to facilitate the connection of the member to a wire.

As shown in Figure 1, the extension 22 is bent up at right angles to the bottom of the channel H, but it can extend out in the same plane if desired. The spring element 20 is preferably made of a single piece of spring wire of suitable size and material, the function of this element being to provide resilient pressure and not to carry electric current, although it may carry a little incidentally. The wire is bent into the shape of two open loops 24 and 26 connected by a transverse element 28. Each loop is adapted to engage on one of the flanges l8 and comprises end portions 30 and 32 adapted to hook over the respective ends of the flange, the end portions 30 and 32 being connected by a downwardly bowed portion 34 which underlies the flange'and is convex downwardly toward the bottom of the channel l4, the lowermost point of the loop being substantially the mid-point thereof. When the spring element 20 is assembled with the channel l4, the bowed portion 34 of each loop touches the corresponding flange [8 at the ends thereof but at no other point, as indicated in Figure 4.

The connecter member l2, which is complementalto the member Ill, comprises a tongue 40 which is adapted to enter the channel l4 with a sliding fit as to width. This tongue is adapted to engage under the bowed portions 34 of the sprin member 20, the thickness of the tongue being somewhat greater than normal clearance between the portions 34 and the channel bottom l4. Hence, when the end of the tongue 40 is thrust into the channel 14, the bowed portions 34 are pushed upward and, to some extent, straightened. Being thus deformed by the tongue 40', they press resiliently downward against the tongue so as to hold it firmly against the bottom of the channel I4, thus ensuring a good electrical contact if the interfacial surfaces are clean.

Preferably, the tongue l4 isprovided with a low boss 42 on its longitudinal median, the tongue 40 being provided with a hole or a pair of complemental depressions 44 in both faces, as indicated in Figure 3, so as to receive the boss 42 and to hold the members I'D and I2 yieldingly against disconnection. Since the depressions 44 are provided in both faces of the tongue 40, the tongue can be inserted in the channel l4 with either of its faces up. The member l2 has a terminal portion 46 integral with the tongue 40. As shown, this terminal is of the kind adapted to receive the end of a wire 48 and to be soldered there- 3 to, but any other type of terminal structure can be employed instead of the one shown.

The member II can quickly and easily be: assembled after the parts are shaped, as indicated in Figure 1. when being assembled, the end portions 30 of the spring element 20 are pinched together sufliciently to enable these portions to move into the channel between the edges of the flanges 16 until they reach the further ends of the flanges. whereupon they spring away from each other to engage over such further ends, the hook portions 32 of the loops then engaging the nearer ends of the flanges Ii. as indicated in Figure 2. The spring element 2. thus holds itself in its proper assembled position withv respect to the channel member, but can be removed by pinching the end portions ll together again sumciently to clear the edges of the flanges N.

I claim:

A member of an electric connecter comprising a substantially rigid channel with a metallic bottom and inturned flanges overhanging said bottom, and a U-shaped piece of spring wire mounted on said channel with a. portion extending longic4 tudinally under each of said flanges, each said portion being downwardly bowed to be convex toward said bottom and bent up at its ends to enease the ends of the respective flanges whereby to maintain said spring element assembled with said channel.

HUGH W. BATCHELLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

4 K UNITED STA'I'ES PATENTS Number 

